Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport
Summary: Martin Luther King had a dream, and it started before thte time he was an adult. Martin's Big Words walks briefly through the life of Martin Luther King beginning when he was a young child and progressing to the time of his death. As a child, Martin's mother made sure he knew he was as good as anyone regardless of his skin color. His father taught him about God, and as he grew he studied Mahatma Gandhi and his non-violent impact on India. When Martin eventually became a preacher like his father, he knew he wanted to make a difference for the black people in America. He did this by advocating non-violence and love rather than hate to make changes. Martin's Big Words shows a preliminary look at Martin's journey speaking and marching peacefully with his people. It also shows the challenges he faced as he was jailed, and as the lives of he and his family were threatened. The book leaves the reader with Martin's big words, such as peace, freedom, love, and together, which are still important today.
APA Reference: Rappaport, D. (2001). Martin's big words: The life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.
Impressions: Both a Caldecott Honor book, and a Coretta Scott King Honor book, Martin's Big Words proves itself more than worthy of these awards. The illustrations in the book are a striking and very realistic combination of water color and collage, and they do a lot to bring the story in the book to life. Martin Luther King is often pictured surrounded by the dark, with an illuminated face which helps to emphasize the words which he spoke. The illustrator uses symbolism and the image of a stained glass window to portray beams of light blazing out of the dark. Doreen Rappaport's written words correspond perfectly with the illustrations and emphasize the things Martin would have wanted emphasized, rather than the hate which is still seen and felt in so many books about the civil Rights Movement. The writing is powerful because it emphasizes unity, love, and the ability all people have to make a difference in the world.
This picture-book biography provides an ideal introduction to this leader and his works. Juxtaposing original text with quotes from King's writing and speeches, Rappaport's (Escape from Slavery ) narrative offers a pastiche of scenes from King's life, beginning with his childhood experience of seeing "White Only" signs sprinkled throughout his hometown. He questions his mother about their meaning, and she assures him, "You are as good as anyone." Listening to his father preach, the boy asserts that "When I grow up, I'm going to get bigwords, too." Rappaport also touches upon King's role in the Montgomery bus strike that followed Rosa Park's 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger and his subsequent efforts as a civil rights crusader. After briefly describing the circumstances of his death, the story concludes, quite abruptly, with the statement, "His bigwords are alive for us today." The author relies on her subject's own words, and his power, passion and pacifism shine through. Collier's (Uptown ) striking watercolor and cut paper collage art feature closely focused, lifelike images of King and other individuals against an inventive montage of patterns and textures. The portraits of King exude his spiritual strength and peaceful visage. In the background of some scenes are intricate recreations of stained glass windows, which, Collier explains in an introductory note, he interprets as a metaphor for King's life. An elegant, understated pictorial biography. Ages 5-9.
[Review of the book Martin's big words: The life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., by D. Rappaport]. (2001, October 08). Publishers weekly, 248(41), p. 64. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Library uses: Have a program during Black History month emphasizing some of the most influential people of the Civil Rights Movement. The book is short enough, that it would be very effective to project it onto a large screen, and have a prominent African American in the community come read it aloud. This would be a great springboard for a discussion afterward about how everyone can make a difference in their community just by doing little things.
APA Reference: Rappaport, D. (2001). Martin's big words: The life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.
Impressions: Both a Caldecott Honor book, and a Coretta Scott King Honor book, Martin's Big Words proves itself more than worthy of these awards. The illustrations in the book are a striking and very realistic combination of water color and collage, and they do a lot to bring the story in the book to life. Martin Luther King is often pictured surrounded by the dark, with an illuminated face which helps to emphasize the words which he spoke. The illustrator uses symbolism and the image of a stained glass window to portray beams of light blazing out of the dark. Doreen Rappaport's written words correspond perfectly with the illustrations and emphasize the things Martin would have wanted emphasized, rather than the hate which is still seen and felt in so many books about the civil Rights Movement. The writing is powerful because it emphasizes unity, love, and the ability all people have to make a difference in the world.
This picture-book biography provides an ideal introduction to this leader and his works. Juxtaposing original text with quotes from King's writing and speeches, Rappaport's (Escape from Slavery ) narrative offers a pastiche of scenes from King's life, beginning with his childhood experience of seeing "White Only" signs sprinkled throughout his hometown. He questions his mother about their meaning, and she assures him, "You are as good as anyone." Listening to his father preach, the boy asserts that "When I grow up, I'm going to get bigwords, too." Rappaport also touches upon King's role in the Montgomery bus strike that followed Rosa Park's 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger and his subsequent efforts as a civil rights crusader. After briefly describing the circumstances of his death, the story concludes, quite abruptly, with the statement, "His bigwords are alive for us today." The author relies on her subject's own words, and his power, passion and pacifism shine through. Collier's (Uptown ) striking watercolor and cut paper collage art feature closely focused, lifelike images of King and other individuals against an inventive montage of patterns and textures. The portraits of King exude his spiritual strength and peaceful visage. In the background of some scenes are intricate recreations of stained glass windows, which, Collier explains in an introductory note, he interprets as a metaphor for King's life. An elegant, understated pictorial biography. Ages 5-9.
[Review of the book Martin's big words: The life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., by D. Rappaport]. (2001, October 08). Publishers weekly, 248(41), p. 64. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Library uses: Have a program during Black History month emphasizing some of the most influential people of the Civil Rights Movement. The book is short enough, that it would be very effective to project it onto a large screen, and have a prominent African American in the community come read it aloud. This would be a great springboard for a discussion afterward about how everyone can make a difference in their community just by doing little things.
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